Posted: 12/12/2012 7:00:24 PM EDT
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First Reading
Zephaniah 3:14-18a 14. Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15. The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil. 16. In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid,” and to Zion, “Do not let your hands be weakened.” 17. The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise 18 as on a day of festival. Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. 2. Behold, God is my savior, I will act faithfully, and I will not be afraid. For the Lord is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation.” 3. You will draw water with gladness from the fountains of the Savior. R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. 4. And you will say in that day: “Confess the Lord, and invoke his name! Make his plans known among the peoples! Remember that his name is exalted! R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. 5. Sing to the Lord, for he has acted magnificently! Announce it to the whole world! 6. Exult and give praise, O habitation of Zion! For the Great One, the Holy One of Israel, is in your midst!” R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Second Reading Philippians 4:4-7 4. Brothers and Sisters, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. 5. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6. Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. 7. And so shall the peace of God, which exceeds all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Gospel Luke 3:10-18 10. And the crowd was questioning him, saying, “What then should we do?” 11. But in response, he said to them: “Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.” 12. Now the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13. But he said to them, “You should do nothing more than what has been appointed to you.” 14. Then the soldiers also questioned him, saying, “And what should we do?” And he said to them: “You should strike no one, and you should not make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” 15. Now all were thinking about John in their hearts, and the people were supposing that perhaps he might be the Christ. 16. John responded by saying to everyone: “Indeed, I baptize you with water. But there will arrive one stronger than me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit, and with fire. 17. His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will purify his threshing floor. And he will gather the wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18. Indeed, he also proclaimed many other things, exhorting the people. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Overview of the Gospel: This Sunday’s gospel is a continuation of last Sunday’s where we met John the Baptist as he is baptizing and preparing people for the coming Messiah. Between that reading and this Sunday’s, we see John warning the crowds that they must “bear good fruits” that show their repentance (Luke 3:7-9). They are not to rely on their status as God’s Chosen People, the Jews. In our opening verse, we see various people asking John: If they cannot rely on these things “What then should we do?” Note: this is a common question in Luke’s gospel (Luke 3:10, 12, 14; 10:25, 18:18). In Luke’s other inspired work, the Acts of the Apostles, the answer to this question always includes sacramental baptism (Acts 2:37; 16:30; 22:10-16). Questions: In the 1st Reading, what are the reasons that the people are called upon to rejoice? Who is also rejoicing and why? In the 2nd Reading, Why does Paul—and Jesus, for that matter (read Matthew 6:25–34; Luke 10:41; 12:25–29)—forbid anxiety? What kinds of anxiety do you experience in everyday life? How might you do more to follow Paul’s advice in verse 4? What do the wheat and chaff in verse 17 of the Gospel Reading signify (see Isaiah 29:5-6, 41:16, Jeremiah 15:7; Malachi 3:2-3)? What does John say will happen on the day of judgment to those who are like chaff, rather than wheat (Psalm 1:4-6; Matthew 13:24-30)? In light of John’s rugged lifestyle and seemingly uncompromising nature (Matthew 3:1-10), how would you rate the severity of his requirements for those who are seeking to know the way of repentance (verses 10-14)? In terms of your personal experience, what does it mean to be baptized with the holy Spirit and fire (verse 16)? How has that Spirit and fire touched your life? Who have been the John the Baptists in your life—people who have shown you the way, led you to Christ, and encouraged you? If you asked John the Baptist, “What then should we do?” how would he answer? In keeping with the penitential tone of Advent, what one action will you take this week to produce fruit in your life? |
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In the 2nd Reading, Why does Paul—and Jesus, for that matter (read Matthew 6:25–34; Luke 10:41; 12:25–29)—forbid anxiety?
Because it doesn't do any good. Because it is, by its very nature, a denial of your faith in God's love and forgiveness. Basically, If you're gonna worry, why pray? And if you're gonna pray, why worry? Accept the gift of forgiveness, and know that your short stay here (and the pain you endure) is just a small toll for eternal life. |
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In light of John’s rugged lifestyle and seemingly uncompromising nature (Matthew 3:1-10), how would you rate the severity of his requirements for those who are seeking to know the way of repentance (verses 10-14)?
One word can describe St. John the Baptist's requirement: RADICAL. Notice how he doesn't ask for animal sacrifices, fasting, or a donation of money. No going about in sack cloth and ashes. St. John wants those hearing him to repent--to change their behavior. This is radical. It gets to the "root" of the problem--sin. He calls for something profound – a selfless concern for one’s disadvantaged brothers and sisters. John preaches, in advance, what Jesus will preach – the proper use of material possessions. People who share half of their clothing are like Zacchaeus, who gives half of what he possesses to the poor (Luke 19:8). |